New York and New Jersey SNAP Benefits Set to Expire November 1: What You Need to Know.
The US Department of Agriculture will stop making payments for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) on November 1, leaving thousands of New Yorkers in a precarious situation. For many, this means they won't receive their monthly stipend until later, potentially causing food insecurity and financial strain.
According to state comptroller data, New York City receives $424 million in SNAP benefits each month, covering around 95 million meals for its residents. The Food Bank of New York City alone distributes less than half of the meals covered by SNAP annually.
The impending loss of funds has prompted local organizations to prepare for an influx of people seeking assistance. Pantries and food banks across both states are increasing their stock and adjusting operations, including some planning mass distribution events. Some businesses have also announced that they will waive delivery fees for grocery purchases made with SNAP cards.
City Harvest CEO Jilly Stephens noted that in times of crisis, families often resort to extreme measures, such as sending children on separate outings to different neighborhoods to gather essential items. The demand at food pantries has already seen a significant increase over the past two weeks, with some organizations reporting up to 10% more visitors.
The Community Food Bank of New Jersey reported a similar surge in demand, citing people's anxiety and concerns about the impending benefits cut-off. Local officials plan to accelerate delivery or grant aid to support food banks.
New York Governor Kathy Hochul has declared an emergency state of affairs and directed over $100 million towards food assistance. The city is also providing an additional $15 million to local pantries. In New Jersey, the state had initially set a minimum monthly benefit for SNAP recipients at $95 per month but will still distribute funds to eligible households.
While it remains unclear whether SNAP benefits will continue in November, many are calling on lawmakers to intervene and utilize contingency funding to keep the program funded. United Way of New York City has expressed concern that even a one-day delay in receiving benefits could exacerbate the already dire situation for families.
The US Department of Agriculture will stop making payments for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) on November 1, leaving thousands of New Yorkers in a precarious situation. For many, this means they won't receive their monthly stipend until later, potentially causing food insecurity and financial strain.
According to state comptroller data, New York City receives $424 million in SNAP benefits each month, covering around 95 million meals for its residents. The Food Bank of New York City alone distributes less than half of the meals covered by SNAP annually.
The impending loss of funds has prompted local organizations to prepare for an influx of people seeking assistance. Pantries and food banks across both states are increasing their stock and adjusting operations, including some planning mass distribution events. Some businesses have also announced that they will waive delivery fees for grocery purchases made with SNAP cards.
City Harvest CEO Jilly Stephens noted that in times of crisis, families often resort to extreme measures, such as sending children on separate outings to different neighborhoods to gather essential items. The demand at food pantries has already seen a significant increase over the past two weeks, with some organizations reporting up to 10% more visitors.
The Community Food Bank of New Jersey reported a similar surge in demand, citing people's anxiety and concerns about the impending benefits cut-off. Local officials plan to accelerate delivery or grant aid to support food banks.
New York Governor Kathy Hochul has declared an emergency state of affairs and directed over $100 million towards food assistance. The city is also providing an additional $15 million to local pantries. In New Jersey, the state had initially set a minimum monthly benefit for SNAP recipients at $95 per month but will still distribute funds to eligible households.
While it remains unclear whether SNAP benefits will continue in November, many are calling on lawmakers to intervene and utilize contingency funding to keep the program funded. United Way of New York City has expressed concern that even a one-day delay in receiving benefits could exacerbate the already dire situation for families.
I'm not gonna lie, this news is super concerning but I think there's some silver lining here 
like the fact that local organizations and businesses are stepping up to help! Pantries and food banks are preparing for a surge in demand and some places are even planning mass distribution events 
. And, it's great to see New York Governor Kathy Hochul declaring an emergency state of affairs and diverting funds towards food assistance 
. I know it's not ideal that SNAP benefits are expiring but let's keep our fingers crossed that lawmakers will intervene and find a solution 
.
. I mean, NYC gets like $424 million in benefits each month, that's crazy! And the Food Bank of NY City only distributes half of those meals, so you can imagine the demand 
. Can't lawmakers do something about this? 
this is so stressful for ppl living in NY n NJ... the gov's timing is off 
- can't they see how this'll affect food insecurity & financial struggles? 
businesses are trying to help tho, waiving fees and all, but it's not enough 
the gov needs to step in ASAP with some real contingency funding 
but what about the ones who can't get to those places easily? #AccessToFoodIsHumanRight. let's keep calling on lawmakers to intervene and make sure this program stays funded 
. But seriously, what's the deal with this? Is it really that hard to keep the SNAP program funded? It's not like we're asking for the moon here 
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. It's not just about the money, it's about having a safety net so families can thrive.
. Can't they see how this is going to affect people? It's like they're playing with people's lives here 
. We need some real leadership and action on this ASAP 
. Like, what's the worst that's gonna happen? People go hungry for a few days? Big deal! I mean, I've seen people survive on nothing but ramen noodles for weeks and they're still standing 
. And let's be real, food banks are just gonna get more funding from the state to cover it anyway 
. I'm all for helping people out, but come on, this whole thing is just a lot of hype 
. And what's with all the anxiety about sending kids to different neighborhoods to gather food? Like, that's just not gonna happen 
. Kids are smart, they know how to get what they need without having to resort to wild measures 
.
this is just so messed up like what's happening to people who really need help can't they just get some stability 
what's with the cut-off date tho? Can't they just extend it for a bit longer? 
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. It's time for some real action, you know? 
i mean, think about it... thousands of ppl are gonna get a lil extra help from businesses and orgs, which is awesome! they're doing everything they can to make sure people don't go hungry 
plus, the city and state are stepping up with some serious funds 
ugh another forum thread about this stuff is gonna be all doom and gloom... can we just talk about how outdated this system is? like why do we need to declare an emergency state of affairs just cuz some gov't program gets cut off? 
This is so worrying for those people who rely on SNAP benefits! I mean, imagine going from getting food and essentials every month to not knowing when you'll get your next payment 
